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(No Model.)

L, G. TUPTS. AUTOMATIC FIRE SHUTTER.

Patented June 13, 1893.

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NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

LEWIS C. TUFTS, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-SHUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,647, dated June 13, 1893. Application filed June 4, 1892. Serial No. 435,484. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS C. TUFTS, residing at New York city, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Fire-Shutters, of which the following is a full and exact specification.

My invention relates to that class of automatic shutters, which are used to close an open door, window or other vertical opening when the surrounding temperature shall rise beyond a certain point, in order to check the spreading of a fire.

For the better understanding of myinvention, I have prepared the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a section through the line of section 0c-a: in Fig. 2 showing my shutter as arranged when applied by being fastened on the outside of the face of the building, or on the inside of a light shaft. Such a method is used when the shutter is placed upon buildings already constructed. Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing a portion cut away. Fig. 3 represents a section showing the shutter as arranged when used in abuilding where the window is adapted in its construction to the use of the shutter. This method is preferable as the shutter is less conspicuous when arranged in this way. Fig. 4 shows the form of guide D used in the arrangement represented in Fig. 1.

The same letters represent like parts in all the figures.

A is a roller which is placed at the top of the window or other opening to be protected; upon it is wound the shutter B. This shutter is made of metal or other suitable material in parallel bars, so that it is readily rolled around A, which is held in place by suitable brackets at either end, and which contains the spring S arranged to wind the roller A when the shutter is lifted from below. The lower slat or bar of the shutter b is made of heavy metal so as to draw the shutter down when unsupported. When the shutter is rolled up, the lower barb rests on the inflammab le support 0 which is held by brackets E E F F is a small roller over which the shutter passes and so situated as to cause the shutter to fall perpendicularly while unrolling.

D D are strips which are fastened to both sides of the window frame and serve as guides to the shutter.

d is a hood or box which protects the shutter when placed outside the building.

d is the side casing in which the roller is fastened when placed within the window frame.

C is an inflammable and fusible support which is held by the brackets E E. The brackets are so arranged that the support 0 can be easily slipped out. This support may be made of any material which will fuse or become ignited at a low temperature, but I have found that the celluloid compositions are the most desirable, because, while a spark will ignite them, they are possessed of considerable strength and toughness.

The operation of my shutter is simple. It is placed in position before the opening which it is intended to guard. The heavy lower part rests upon the strip of celluloid which extends along its entire length and is held by the brackets. If subjected to a considerable heat, or upon being touched by a spark at any part of its length the support is consumed and the weight of the lower shutter bar causes the shutter to descend, passing over the rollers F F and held back in place by the guides D D. When it is desired to again roll up the shutter, it can easily be done by raising the lower bar. The spring S will act on the roller A so that it will make the shutter fit snugly around the roller, which, with a flexible shutter, would not be the case if the roller had no movement of its own. Care must be taken to adjust the tension of the spring S so'that it will have just the re quired strength and not so much as to prevent the shutter from descending freely when unsupported by G. If at any time it is desired to lower the. shutter, this can be done by slipping the support 0 from the brackets, when the shutter will of course descend.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An automatic fire shutter, held from descending by a fusible support held at its ends and extending across the entire width of the shutter substantially as described.

2. An automatic fire shutter, supported along its entire width by a fusible substance, held at its ends and provided with means whereby it will be caused to descend when said support is withdrawn substantially as described.

3. In an automatic fire shutter, a fusible support, arranged to support a flexible shutter mounted upon a roller, said support being so held in brackets that it may be removed therefrom without raising the shutter, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic fire shutter, the combination of a flexible shutter, mounted upon a roller, a spring operating to wind said roller, a fusible support held at its ends and extending along the lower end of said shutter, and 

